Optimization of Swine Breeding Programs Using Genomic Selection with ZPLAN.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the present conventional selection program of a swine nucleus farm and compare it with a new selection strategy employing genomic enhanced breeding value (GEBV) as the selection criteria. The ZPLAN+ software was employed to calculate and compare the genetic gain, total cost, return and profit of each selection strategy. The first strategy reflected the current conventional breeding program, which was a progeny test system (CS). The second strategy was a selection scheme based strictly on genomic information (GS1). The third scenario was the same as GS1, but the selection by GEBV was further supplemented by the performance test (GS2). The last scenario was a mixture of genomic information and progeny tests (GS3). The results showed that the accuracy of the selection index of young boars of GS1 was 26% higher than that of CS. On the other hand, both GS2 and GS3 gave 31% higher accuracy than CS for young boars. The annual monetary genetic gain of GS1, GS2 and GS3 was 10%, 12%, and 11% higher, respectively, than that of CS. As expected, the discounted costs of genomic selection strategies were higher than those of CS. The costs of GS1, GS2 and GS3 were 35%, 73%, and 89% higher than those of CS, respectively, assuming a genotyping cost of $120. As a result, the discounted profit per animal of GS1 and GS2 was 8% and 2% higher, respectively, than that of CS while GS3 was 6% lower. Comparison among genomic breeding scenarios revealed that GS1 was more profitable than GS2 and GS3. The genomic selection schemes, especially GS1 and GS2, were clearly superior to the conventional scheme in terms of monetary genetic gain and profit.

[E.E.G. changes in 15 patients with bismuth encephalopathy (author's transl)]. / Altérations E.E.G. observées chez 15 malades atteints d'encéphalopathie par les sels de bismuth.

The authors describe the E.E.G. changes found in 15 cases of iatrogenic encephalopathy caused by bismuth salts. All the patients had been taking bismuth, for periods varying from 6 weeks to 30 years, in doses from 5 to 20 g per day. The clinical picture included mental confusion to varying degrees, disturbances of standing and walking, myoclonus, dysarthria, and convulsions in 5 cases. Myoclonic jerks were not occompanied by E.E.G. paroxysmal features in any of the cases observed. Eleven of the patients presented similar E.E.G. findings at one time or another during the course of the condition: monomorphic, stable 4-6 c/s activity, present bilaterally in the temporo-fronto-rolandic regions, unaffected by eye opening and by photic stimulation. In the other four patients, the above E.E.G. features were not found (recording performed too early or too late? co-existing electrical or metabolic disturbances? post-critical recording?).